TNI Commander Ready To Give Proposal For A Candidate To Replace Him If Asked By The President

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono said he was ready to provide advice and opinions regarding his candidate for replacement if requested by President Joko Widodo.

However, Yudo Margono emphasized that the decision to choose a candidate to replace him was the prerogative of the President.

"Until now I have not (asked, ed), what was earlier (about his replacement) is of course the prerogative of the President. If the President asks, of course I will provide suggestions and opinions," said Admiral Yudo as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, October 27.

Yudo Margono, who officially served as TNI Commander in December 2022, retired on November 26, 2023 when he was 58 years old.

Article 53 of Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army regulates the service period for soldiers at most 58 years for officers and 53 years for non-commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

The TNI Law regulates high-ranking officers who are proposed as candidates for the TNI Commander by the president are high-active officers of each generation who are or have served as chiefs of staff of the force.

If you refer to the regulation, exactly Article 13 of the TNI Law, it means that there are three candidates to replace Yudo Margono, namely the Army Chief of Staff General Agus Subiyanto who is officially in office today, then the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo.

Two chiefs of staff, on different occasions, did not respond to questions about the possibility that they would be elected as TNI Commander replacing Yudo Margono.

Agus Subiyanto, during a press conference after the handover ceremony for Kasad's position, only spontaneously laughed when asked by reporters regarding the possibility of him being a replacement for Admiral Yudo Margono.

After hearing this question, Agus Subiyanto immediately looked at Yudo and cupped his hands at the TNI Commander.

Admiral Ali when met by reporters at the Indonesian Navy Headquarters, Jakarta, Thursday (26/10), also chose not to respond to questions about his chances of becoming a candidate to replace Yudo Margono. When he heard that question, Ali spontaneously smiled.

"I can't possibly ( THINK about) going there (the opportunity to become Commander, red), the important thing is that we carry out what is currently implementing this (as Kasal). The TNI Commander is the prerogative of the president and there is also the approval of the DPR. Later, go ahead, the important thing is that I as the chief of staff, whether I have carried out my duties properly or not, that's my concentration," said Ali.